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Report: Al Harrington 'close' to signing with Wizards

Al Harrington played just 10 games with the Magic last season. (Fernando Medina/NBAE via Getty Images)

One of the NBA's best remaining free agents is 'close' to joining the Washington Wizards.

The Washington Post's Michael Lee reports that Al Harrington is visiting Washington today and is expected to sign a one-year deal for the veterans' minimum. ESPN's Marc Stein first reported Harrington was leaning toward signing with the Wizards.

Harrington, 33, was limited to just 10 games with the Magic last season after developing a staph infection following meniscus surgery. He recently told USA TODAY's Sam Amick that he's lost 27 pounds and is physically ready for NBA action. Harrington and the Magic agreed to his release the first week of August.

The 15-year NBA vet averaged 14.2 points and 6.1 rebounds per game in 64 games for the Denver Nuggets in 2011-12, his 11th straight season scoring in double figures. Harrington's best year came in 2008-09 when he scored 20.1 points per game for the New York Knicks and the Golden State Warriors.

Harrington also revealed to Amick his frustration with the "politics" and "business side" of the NBA.

"Being in that situation in Orlando, you get a real good look at politics and stuff like that, the part of the game that's not attractive — just the business side of it," Harrington told USA TODAY Sports recently while training in Las Vegas. "One thing I realized is that it's not about how much you can play or what you can do on the court anymore. The game has become about (financial) numbers and salaries and stuff like that.
"It's not what you can do anymore. It's what you can do at that price. And everybody wants a deal, you know what I mean?"